New-look Braves facing all sorts of questions this spring

KISSIMMEE -- Mark DeRosa remembers going to spring training with the Atlanta Braves and knowing he had little chance to make the team.

The roster was basically set. There might have been room for an extra outfielder or another reliever, but that was about it.

"When I was coming up from the minors, there was like one spot available," DeRosa said. "This year, there's plenty of spots to be won."

Indeed, spring should be interesting for the Braves, who went through a major transformation while cutting salaries.

Gone are Gary Sheffield, Greg Maddux, Javy Lopez and Vinny Castilla. Not to mention several lesser-known but valuable members of a team that won Atlanta's 12th straight division title.

There are all sorts of holes to fill, all sorts of questions to answer.

Can rookie Adam LaRoche take over at first base?

Can Johnny Estrada come anywhere close to putting up numbers like Lopez's?

Can J.D. Drew stay healthy?

Can John Smoltz bounce back from elbow surgery?

And, most important, can the Braves possibly win another title in the much-improved NL East?

General manager John Schuerholz and manager Bobby Cox look forward to seeing how it all turns out.

"There's always some wonderment about what the roster's going to be," Schuerholz said. "But clearly, it's more so this year."

DeRosa is set to replace Castilla at third. Last year's starter had 22 homers and 76 RBIs, while his successor has only 14 homers and 68 RBIs -- in his career.

DeRosa has been a utility infielder the last three years, never played more than 103 games in a season and must prove he can handle this job. To prepare, DeRosa bulked up nearly 10 pounds. His biceps, especially, are much bigger than the end of last season.

"I haven't played a whole season in a while," DeRosa said. "The big thing is maintaining my strength. The body breaks down when you play all those games."

The Braves appear to be taking a major gamble at the corners, going with two players who don't have big power potential. LaRoche, the son of former major league pitcher Dave LaRoche, averaged nine homers a year in the minors.

In any case, Chipper Jones knows it will be impossible to match the Braves' 2003 offensive output. They set franchise records for runs, home runs, hits, doubles, total bases and slugging percentage.

"That's a lot of offense we've got to replace. Did we replace it? No," Jones said. "But John's hands are tied. He's got to operate under certain guidelines. He did as good as he could."

Take catcher, where the Braves couldn't afford to keep Lopez. So a guy who batted .328 with 43 homers and 109 RBIs was replaced by Estrada, who spent most of last season at Triple A.

LaRoche has never played above Double A, but the Braves are pushing him into the lineup after a 45-game stint at Greenville in 2003.

In the ultimate odd couple, the rookie LaRoche probably will share the job with 45-year-old Julio Franco.

"Last year, I was still kind of iffy. I was like, 'Maybe I don't belong here,'" LaRoche said. "Now I'm like, 'Yeah, I can do it. I do belong here.'"

Smoltz, who has 100 saves the last two years, is throwing again without pain after surgery to remove scar tissue in his troubled right elbow. He floated the idea of moving back into the starting rotation, but that was quickly shot down.

"Did it cross my mind? Sure, he was a great starter," Schuerholz said. "But now he's a great closer."

Besides, the Braves signed Jon Thomson, who pitched well in the second half of last season with Texas. He takes Maddux's place in a rotation that also includes Russ Ortiz, Mike Hampton and Horacio Ramirez.

One cause for concern: Who'll bridge the gap from the starters to Smoltz? Atlanta signed former Marlins closer Antonio Alfonseca, coming off a poor season with the Cubs (3-1, 5.83 ERA).

Then there's right, where Sheffield (.330, 39 HRs, 132 RBIs) will be replaced by Drew, an oft-injured outfielder acquired in a trade with the Cardinals. The Braves hope the Georgia native will have a breakout season in the final year of his contract.

"I'd like to see what he can do with 150 games and 600 at-bats. He's never done that," Jones said. "He's got to prove that he's going to be ready to play all season. The team's counting on him to show up and produce."

In the face of all the changes, Schuerholz remains defiant. He is convinced the Braves have enough talent to contend for another championship.

"We've got some quality guys to fill the bill," the GM said. "We just don't know who they're going to be yet."